Loading machine



March 9, 1937.

F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet1' awe/ Z21:

March 9, 1937. I F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14,1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 9, 1937. CARTUDGE 2,073,142

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 9,1937. CARTUDGE 2,073,142

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 9,1937,. CARTLIDGE 2,073,142

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 193i 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedMar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOADING MACHINE FrankCartlidge, Chicago, 111., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Gompany,Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois 20 Claims.

This invention relates to loading machines of the type adapted to loadcoal in mines at the working face and has among other objects to providea new and improved gathering and load- 5. ing element for picking up andloading coal.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a loading machine constructed inaccordance with my invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the deviceshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the gathering and loading elementwith parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the detailsthereof;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken substantially on line 44 ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 20 substantially on line5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of thegathering element with parts broken away and in section to show certaindetails thereof;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 'i'lof Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the apron for supporting thegathering and loading element;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of the gathering and loadingelement showing the gathering mechanism in one position with respect tothe apron; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the 35. gathering and loadingelement showing the gathering mechanism. in another position withrespect to the apron.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the main elements of theembodiment of my invention illustrated are similar to those disclosed inPatent No. 2,027,091 for Improvements in loading machines, and consistof a wheeled truck .45 or main frame If] having an inclined gatheringand loading element l l in front of the main frame and a dischargeconveyor i2 extending from beneath the rear end of said gathering andloading element and upwardly and rearwardly there- 50 from overhangingthe rear end of said main frame for discharging material into suitablereceptacles such as mine cars.

Suitable means are provided for driving the main operating parts, whichmeans herein comprises an electric motor l3. The electric motor 13 hasdriving connection with the truck wheels for driving the loading machineabout the mine and for feeding the loading element into the material tobe loaded. The electric motor 13 also serves as a driving means for theoperating parts of the gathering and loading element H for raising orlowering said gathering and loading element, and for swinging saidgathering and loading element about a vertical axis. The details of thedrive to the main operating parts are similar to those disclosed in myaforementioned patent so will not herein be shown or described indetail.

The gathering and loading element ii comprises an inclined conveyorframe i l supported between a pair of upright side plates 5 for pivotalmovement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis disposed adjacentthe rearward end thereof. The upright side plates l5 are in turnsupported on the main frame It for swinging the inclined conveyor framei4 about a vertical axis and positioning the gathering and loadingelement ii for gathering from various sections in the working place. Themeans for swinging the upright side plates l5 about a vertical axis andthe inclined conveyor frame 14 about a horizontal axis are not hereinshown nor described since they are no portion of my present inventionand are fully disclosed in my aforementioned patent.

The inclined conveyor frame I l as herein shown preferably comprises arearward section l6 and a forward section ll connected thereto in asuitable manner, which forward section has an apron it formed integraltherewith and extending forwardly therefrom and along the sides thereoffor engaging the ground ahead of the conveyor frame i l and carrying themajor portion of the gathering mechanism.

The forward and rearward sections l1 and [6 of the inclined conveyorframe M are provided with a central portion or pan 8 forming a surfacefor moving material therealong and having sides 9 extending upwardly anddownwardly therefrom. Suitable means are provided for moving loosematerial along the central portion or pan 8 of the inclined conveyorframe M which may be of any construction but which is herein preferablyshown as being a flight conveyor indicated by reference character IS.

The flight conveyor l9 may be of any suitable construction, but isherein shown as comprising a pair of parallel spaced'chains havingflights 2i carried therebetween in a suitable manner. The chains 20 aretrained around sprockets 22 adjacent the rearward end of the conveyorframe M keyed on a transversely extending drive shaft 23 coaxial withthe axis of pivotal connection of the conveyor frame M with the uprightside plates i5. The transversely extending shaft 23 is driven from themotor Ed by means of a suitable geared reduction drive and chain andsprocket drives generally indicated by reference character 24 in amanner similar to that disclosed in my hereinbefore mentioned patent.

The conveyor chains 28 extend forwardly from the sprockets 22 beneaththe central portion or pan 8 of the conveyor frame Hi over idler rollers25 and under drive sprockets 26 keyed on a transversely extending shaft2? for driving said Shaft and the gathering mechanism in a manner whichwill hereinafter be more fully described. The idler rollers 25 areadjustable in a usual manner, which will not herein be described indetail, to compensate for wear in said conveyor chains. From thence saidconveyor chains extend forwardly around idler rollers 28 on atransversely extending shaft 29 journaled on its ends in suitable rollerbearings adjacent the forward portion of the conveyor frame M and belowthe apron i8. From thence said conveyor chains extend along the upperside of the pan 8 for moving material upwardly therealong.

Referring now to the novel construction and arrangement of the gatheringmechanism and apron l8, said apron, as herein shown, is inclined at agreater angle of incidence with respect to the ground upon which themachine rests than the inclined conveyor and has a shoe extendingrearwardly from its forward end which is adapted to rest on the ground.Said shoe is relatively short in order that it may engage the groundwhere the bottom is uneven. Said shoe and apron meet to form awedgashaped forward end for the gathering mechanism which isperpendicular to the path of travel of the conveyor along the frame I tto permit said apron to be readily advanced into the material it isdesired to gather.

The conveyor frame i4 is provided with outwardly flared sides 33 whichare cut away at the forward end of the forward section if to receive theapron l8, as is best shown in Figure 8. Said apron is connected to saidsides in a suitable manner, such as welding, and the inner boundaries ofsaid apron extending along the conveyor diverge outwardly therefrom in arearwardly direction. Retaining walls 34, 3 extend upwardly from andalong opposite rearward ends of said apron and abut and are secured tosaid flared sides at their inner ends.

Suitable gathering mechanism, generally indicated by reference character35, is mounted on the upper side of the apron l8 and as herein shownincludes a pair of spaced endless chains having spaced gathering arms 31extending laterally therefrom. One of said endless chains is arranged oneach side of said inclined conveyor and extends forwardly thereaiongbeyond the forward end thereof. Said endless chains are guided formovement in a plane parallel to the plane of said apron and in orbitsdiverging from the sides of said conveyor as said endless chains moveupwardly therealong in a path similar to the path of the inner marginsof said apron. As so arranged, the gathering arms overhang the conveyorbut are substantially beyond the sides of said conveyor at their turningpoint away therefrom (see Figures 3 9, and 10).

The angle between the gathering arms 31 and the inner margins of theapron l8 and sides 33 of the conveyor frame is such that as saidgathering arms turn away from the conveyor, mate rial engaged by saidarms between said arms and said flared sides of said conveyor will bedefiected onto said conveyor, instead of being crushed or carried beyondsaid conveyor.

The shoe 3!) is usually adapted to engage the ground during the loadingoperation and the apron I8 is usually forced into the loose material bymovement of the entire machine along the track. The paths of thegathering arms are such that While they overlap at the forward portionof the apron, a dead space is formed forwardly of the central portion ofthe forward end of said apron from which space said gathering armscannot pick up material, and which is best illustrated by broken linesin Figures 9 and 10. It is impractical to eliminate this dead spacewithout increasing the liability of fouling oppositely disposedgathering arms and decreasing the capacity of the gathering mechanism.Moreover, tightly packed or large lumps of coal in this dead spaceretard and at times prevent the gathering mechanism from being fedtherein. This difhculty is overcome by a novel arrangement of theforward end of the apron which consists in cutting away a portion of thecenter of the shoe 30, the margins of which generally conform to thepath of adjacent gathering arms 3?, and cutting away a correspondingportion from the apron 18 but of greater dimensions than the cut awayportion of the shoe, and closing the vertical space between said apronand shoe. Thus, a recess, generally indicated by reference character 32,is provided in the center of the forward end of said apron and shoe,which has forward engaging surfaces inclined upwardly and rearwardlyfrom the margins of the cut away portion of the shoe to the cut awayportion of the apron. This notched portion of said apron permits saidapron to be advanced so the arms may gather material from the dead spacebefore mentioned and forms in effect a wedge which lifts up the materialengaged, into the path of the gathering arms as said apron is advancedtherein.

In referring to Figures 3 and 5, it will be seen that the portion of theapron l8 in front of the conveyor i9 terminates to a discharge edgeextending across the forward end of said conveyor which discharge edgeis in a vertical plane forwardly of the shaft 29. Thus, the distancesaid gathering arms are required to move material for discharge ontosaid conveyor is reduced to a minimum. Also, the length of the apron infront of the conveyor is such that material may fall directly on theconveyor and be carried away by the conveyor without the aid of thegathering arms.

In this connection it should be noted that the drive from the conveyorto the gathering arms, which will hereinafter be more fully described,is such that the speed of the conveyor is greater than that of thegathering arms so that said conveyor may carry material away from saidgathering arms at a faster rate than it is deposited thereon. It shouldfurther be noted that the gathering arms are pivotally connected to theendless chains for movement in a forward direction about an axisperpendicular to the plane of said apron to permit material on saidconveyor, traveling at a higher rate of speed than the arms, to pivotsaid arms in a forward direction and prevent fouling of opposite armsand lessen the tendency of said arms to carry material beyond theconveyor.

It will thus be seen that the arrangement of the apron and gatheringarms is such that a maximum amount of material will be deposited on theconveyor and moved away from said gathering arms by the conveyor andthat the amount of material carried past the conveyor by the gatheringarms will be reduced to a minimum.

The endless chains are guided for movement in orbital paths in chainguiding members 36, suitable openings being provided in the top surfaceof the apron [8 for supporting the gathering mechanism 3| to permit saidgathering mechanism to be driven from a point beneath the apron I8 bythe endless chains 23 of the conveyor I9 at a point rearwardly of theforward end of said conveyor. Each gathering arm 37 is pivotallyconnected to a link of the endless chain in.

a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described, and is providedwith a pair of bits 33 thereon which may be detachably connected theretoin any suitable manner. One of the bits 38 extends outwardly from theend of each gathering arm 31 while another bit 38 extends angularlyupwardly therefrom. This permits the chains to cut into the coal whereit is tightly wedged between the mine roof and bottom and permits saidchains to break up large lumps so they may be moved onto the conveyori9, and minimizes the tendency of said chains to foul.

Each gathering arm 31 has a member 39 extending. forwardly therefrom,which member is -pivotally connected to a lug 43 extending outwardlyfrom one of the links of the endless chain 35. A stop 4| extendsrearwardly from each gathering arm 3'! and engages another link of theendless chain 35 to prevent rearward movement of said gathering armsabout the axis of pivotal connection of said gathering arms to theendless chain 35 during the loading operation. It may be seen that thegathering arms 31 are so arranged that they may be pivotally moved 5forwardly when a lump carried onto the conveyor by one gathering armengages the rearward side of another gathering arm, which arrangementfurther lessens the tendency of said gathering arms to bind or foul.

The endless chains 35 are further provided with scraper lugs 43 spacedbetween the gathering arms 37. Each scraper lug 43 is connected to alink of the endless chain 35 and extends upwardly therefrom and inwardlyover the top portion of one of the chain guiding members 36 so as toscrape material from said chain guiding members onto the path of theconveyor and to prevent the gathering and loading element II from beingwedged under coal which has fallen thereon. The scraper lugs 43 areprovided with bits 44 to cut into material which may be wedged onto theapron I8 and to breakup large lumps of material.

Referring now in particular to the details of the chain guiding members36 and the means for driving the endless chains 35 about said guiding.

members, said chain guiding members are split so as to form a means foradjusting the tension of the chains and comprise a forward section and arearward section. The guiding members 36 are each of the sameconstruction so one guiding member only will be herein described. Therearward section of the guiding member 36 comprises top and bottom guideplates 41' connected to op- 5 posite sides of a spacing member 48 by anysuitable means such as rivets, which spacing member has portions 49extending forwardly there from and forming a guide for the forward sec:tion of the chain guiding member 36as may-clearly be seen with referenceto Figures 3 and 4.

The forward section of the chain guiding member 36 comprises a top guideplate 50 and a. bot-: tom guide plate 58. The guide plates 50.and 58 areconnected to opposite sides ofsuitable spacing members 5|, which spacingmembers are slidable within the inner sides of the forwardly extendingportions 49 of the spacing member 48, and the bottom guide plate 58extends outwardly from the top guide plate 50 to form a support forthegathering arms 3'! when oscillated beyond the lateral sides of the apronI8.

t may thus be seen. that the forward and rearward sections of the chainguiding member 36 are held from lateral movement with respect to eachother, but that said sections may be longitudinally moved with respectto each other to compensate for wear in the endless chain 35. Anysuitable means may be provided to move the forward and rearward sectionsof the chain guiding member 36 longitudinally with respect to; eachother to tighten thev respective chain but the means herein preferablyshown is av bolt 53 threaded within a member 54' secured between the topguide plate 53 and the bottom guide plate 58 and having its headabutting the spacing member 48.

A drive sprocket 55 is keyed on a shaft 56, which shaft has its upperend journaled Within a sleeve 51. The sleeve 51 in turn; is journaledwithin the top guide plate 41 and is provided with a collar 62 whichabuts the upper side of said guide plate. The teeth of the sprocket 55are spaced midway between the guide plates 41 and mesh with the endlesschain 35 for driving said endless chain.

The shaft 56 is perpendicular to the apron l8 and extends downwardlytherefrom and. is journaled in suitable roller bearings carried within asuitable bearing support and housing member 59; attached to theunderside of the apron l8 and extending downwardly therefrom. A bevelgear 60 is keyed to the lower end of the shaft 56-and is driven from abevel pinion 6| keyed on the outer end of the transversely extendingdrive shaft 21.

A'drive sprocket 63 is spaced between the top guide plate 53 and bottomguide plate 58 adjacent the forward ends thereof and is keyed on a shaft64, which shaft is journaled, within a flanged sleeve 65 adjacent itsupper end, which flanged sleeve in turn is supported in the top guideplate 50. A flanged sleeve 66 abuts the lower end of the drive sprocket63 and is secured within the bottom guide plate 58 and provides abearingsupport for the lower portion of the shaft 64. The shaft 64extends beneath the flangedsleeve 66 and has a crank 61 keyed to itslower end. A guide block 69 is pivotally supported-to the free end ofthe crank 61 and extends down-v wardly therefrom. The guide block 69 isin turn slidable in a longitudinally extending guide 10 formed in amember H attached to the underportion of the apron l8.

It may thus be seen that when the conveyor I9- is driven from the motori 3, that the conveyor chains 20 will drive the endless chains 35 bymeans of the transversely extending shaft 2-! located rearwardly of theforward end of said conveyor, bevel pinions 6|, bevel gears 60; shafts56 and drive sprockets 55; and that the driving of the endless chains 35will drive the. drive TIE sprockets 63 which will in turn rotate theshafts 64 and cranks B1. Rotation of the cranks 67 will move the guideblocks 69 reciprocably longitudinally in the longitudinally extendingguide 10 which will oscillate the chain guiding members 36 and thegathering mechanism 3! about the axes of the shafts 56 in an obviousmanner.

It may be seen that oscillation of the gathering mechanism 3| about theaxis of the shaft 56 increases the range of the gathering arms 31 andthe speed of movement of said gathering arms adjacent the forwardportion of the apron I8 and forms a means whereby the gatheringmechanism 3| may free itself when wedged under tight coal, and wherebysaid gathering mechanism may readily break up tight coal for loading andload it onto the conveyor [9. With the arrangement herein shown,swinging of the gathering and loading element II to increase thegathering range of the gathering arms 31 or to free the apron l8 andgathering and loading element II from the coal is reduced to a minimuminasmuch as the gathering mechanism 3| is continually movingtransversely of the apron With reference to Figures 9 and 10, it may beseen that the gathering mechanism 3| may be arranged so the guidemembers 36 each simultaneously swing towards the center of the apron l8or so one guide member 36 is swung towards the center of the apron l8 asthe other guide member 36 is swung away from the center of said apron.

Timing of the swinging of the guide members 36 with respect to eachother is changed by changing the position of the cranks 81 with respectto each other. Thus it may be seen that the gathering mechanisms 3| maybe arranged to swing in any desired relation with respect to each other.It should further be noted that the gathering arms 31 are supported onthe outwardly extending portion of the bottom guide plates 58 whenbeyond the lateral extremities of the apron l8 to enable said arms to befirmly supported when initially engaging the coal.

It may now be seen that I have provided a new and improved gathering andloading element for a loading machine which is so arranged that thegathering mechanism may cut into and break down tight coal and which hasa loading conveyor l9 adjacent the forward portion of the apron l8arranged so the conveyor may aid in the loading operation when coal isbroken down on the apron itself, and that the apron and gatheringmechanism are so arranged that a maximum amount of coal will bedischarged onto the conveyor l9 and the possibility of the gatheringmechanism carrying coal around and discharging it to the rearward orouter sides of the apron is reduced to a minimum. It may also be seenthat the apron I8 is so arranged as to eliminate any dead gathering areaand so as to permit the apron I8 to be continually fed into the materialwhich is being loaded when said material is either I loose or tightlywedged between the mine roof and mine bottom.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, I donot wish to be limited to the precise details of construction orarrangement of parts herein shown and described excepting asspecifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loading machine, a frame, a gathering and loading elementextending forwardly of said frame including an inclined conveyor, anendless chain guided for movement in a closed orbital path in a planeinclined with respect to the horizontal, said endless chain havinggathering means thereon and being disposed to one side of said inclinedconveyor and extending generally longitudinally thereof, beyond theforward end thereof, means driven by said inclined conveyor for drivingsaid endless chain including a drive sprocket disposed adjacent therearward end of said endless chain and means driven by said endlesschain for oscillatably moving said endless chain laterally with respectto said inclined conveyor about an axis coaxial with the axis of saiddrive sprocket.

2. In a loading machine, a frame, a gathering and loading elementextending forwardly of said frame including an inclined conveyor, aninclined apron extending forwardly of and to one side of said inclinedconveyor, an endless chain guided for orbital movement in a planeparallel to the plane of said apron, said endless chain having gatheringmeans thereon and extending generally longitudinally of said inclinedconveyor, means driven by said inclined conveyor for driving saidendless chain including a drive sprocket disposed adjacent the rearwardend of said endless chain, and means driven by said endless chain foroscillatably moving said endless chain laterally with respect to saidinclined conveyor about an axis coaxial with the axis of said drivesprocket.

3. In a loading machine, a frame, a gathering and loading elementextending forwardly of said frame including an inclined conveyor, a pairof endless chains having gathering means thereon guided for movement inclosed orbital paths inclined with respect to the horizontal, disposedon opposite sides of said inclined conveyor and extending generallylongitudinally therealong, beyond the forward end thereof, means drivenby said inclined conveyor for driving said endless chains includingdrive sprockets disposed on opposite sides of said inclined conveyor,and means driven by said endless chains for oscillatably moving saidendless chains towards and from said inclined conveyor about axescoaxial with the axes of said drive sprockets.

4. In a loading machine, a frame, a conveyor thereon and movable withrespect thereto about a vertical axis, and a gathering and loadingelement carried by said frame and extending forwardly thereof comprisingan inclined conveyor having a discharge end disposed above saidfirstmentioned conveyor, an orbitally guided endless chain havinggathering means thereon disposed to one side of said inclined conveyorand extending generally longitudinally therealong, means driven by saidinclined conveyor for driving said endless chain including a drivesprocket and means driven by said endless chain for oscillatably movingsaid endless chain laterally towards and from said inclined conveyorabout an axis coaxial with the axis of said drive sprocket.

5. In a loading machine, a frame, a conveyor thereon and movable withrespect thereto about a vertical axis, and a gathering and loadingelement carried by said frame and extending forwardly thereof comprisingan inclined conveyor having a discharge end disposed above saidfirstmentioned conveyor, a pair of orbitally guided endless chainshaving gathering means thereon disposed on opposite sides of saidinclined conveyor and extending generally longitudinally therealong,means driven by said inclined con- 'veyor for driving said endlesschains including drive sprockets disposed on opposite sides of saidinclined'conveyor and means driven by said-endless chains foroscillatably moving said endless chains laterally towards and from saidinclined conveyor about axes coaxial with the axes of said drivesprockets.

6. In combination with a loading machine, a :gathering and loadingelement comprising an osl0-cillatably movable guide'member having anendless gathering chain movable thereabout, and means for oscillatingsaid guide member comprising a crank driven by said endless chain, a

guideway, and means on said crank slidable in said guideway.

7.'In combination with a loading machine, a gathering and loadingelement comprising an os- 'cillatably movable guide member having a plurality of sprockets therein, and having an endless xgathering chaintrained around said sprockets for :movement aboutsaid guide member in anorbital path, and means for oscillatably moving said guidc;membercomprising a crank driven by one of said sprockets, a guideway, andmeans on said crank slidable in said guideway.

8. In combination with a loading machine, a gathering and loadingelement comprising an inclined convey r, an apron disposed forwardly ofsaid inclined conveyor, and gathering mechanism :driven from saidinclined conveyor and disposed on each 'sideof said inclined conveyorcomprising a "pair of guide members oscillatably movable about axesdisposed adjacent the rearward end thereof having gathering arm carryingendless chains orbitally movable thereabout, and means for oscillatingsaid guide members comprising cranks driven by said endless chains,guideways extending longitudinally of said apron, and means on saidcranks slidable in said guideways. 40 .9. In "combination with a loadingmachine, a gathering and loading element comprising an inclinedconveyor, an apron disposed forwardly of said inclined conveyor, andgathering mechanism drivenffrom said inclined conveyor anddisposedoneachside of said inclined conveyor com prising a pair of guidemembers oscillatably movable about axes disposed adjacent the rearwardend thereof having sprockets at opposite ends thereof and gathering armcarrying endless 5 chains trained therearound for continuous movement inorbital paths, and means for oscillatably moving said guide memberscomprising cranks driven by the forwardmostof said sprockets, aplurality of guideways extending longitudinally of said apron, andguidemeans on said cranks slidable in'said guideways upon rotation ofsaid cranks.

10. In a loading machine, the combination with an inclined conveyorhaving an inclined apron disposed forwardly thereof, said apron having aground engaging surface forming a wedge shaped forward end, said forwardend being disposed perpendicular to the path of travel of said conveyoralong the machine and having a receding portion formed'in the centralportion thereof with the plane of said apron on each side of saidinclined conveyor, said apron having a ground engaging surface forming awedge shaped forward end, and said. forward end being disposed substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of said conveyor alongthe machine and having a receding portion formed in the central portionthereof conforming generally to the paths of each of said gatheringarms.

12. In a loading machine, a gathering and'loading element comprising aninclined conveyor having an apron disposed forwardly of and to each sideof said conveyor, said apron being inclined at a greater angle ofincidence with respect to the ground upon which the machine rests thansaid inclined conveyor and having gathering arms carried on endlesschains movable in orbital paths in planes substantially parallel withthe plane of said apron on each side of said conveyor and extendingforwardly of said conveyor and apron, said apron having a groundengaging surface forming a wedge shaped forward end, and said forwardend being disposed substantially perpendicular to the path of travel ofsaid conveyor along the machine and having a receding central portionhaving each of its opposite sides formed to conform generally to thepath of its adjacent gathering chain.

13. In a mining machine, a gathering and loading element comprising aninclined conveyor having an apron disposed forwardly of and to each sideof said conveyor, an oscillatably movable orbitallyguided endless chainhaving gathering means thereon on each side of said conveyor andextending forwardly of said conveyor, said apron having a groundengaging under surface forming a wedge shaped forward end, and saidforward end being disposed substantially perpendicular to the path oftravel of said conveyor along the machine and having a receding centralportion having each of its opposite sides formed to conform generally tothe path of its adjacent gathering arm.

14. In a loading machine, the combination with an inclined conveyor, agathering element comprising an inclined apron disposed forwardly of andon each side of said conveyor having gathering arm carrying chainsmovable in orbital paths in planes substantially parallel with the planeof said apron on each side of said inclined conveyor, said gatheringarms being movable transversely toward said conveyor and longitudinallyalong said conveyor, and said apron having .a ground engaging surfaceforming a wedge. shaped forward end, said forward end being disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the path of travel of said conveyor alongthe machine and having a receding central portion having each of itsopposite sides formed to conform generally to the path of its adjacentgathering arm.

15. In a loading machine, a gathering and loading element comprising aninclined conveyor having an apron disposed forwardly of and to each sideof said conveyor, an oscillatably movable orbitally guided endless chaindisposed on each side of said conveyor and extending forwardlytherefrom, said endless chains having gathering means thereornand beingdriven from said conveyor rearwardly of the forward end thereof, saidgathering means being movable transversely toward said conveyor andlongitudinally along said conveyor and said apron having a groundengaging surface forming with said apron a Wedge shaped forward end ofsaid apron, said forward end being disposed substantially perpendicularto the path of travel of said conveyor along the machine and having areceding central portion having each of its opposite sides formed toconform generally to the path of its adjacent gathering arm.

16. In a loading machine, the combination with an inclined conveyorhaving upstanding and outwardly flared sides thereon, an apron disposedl0 forwardly of and to each side of said conveyor, the portion of saidapron adjacent opposite sides of said inclined conveyor being flaredoutwardly away from said conveyor and having connection with saidoutwardly flared sides of said conveyor, said apron having a gatheringarm carrying chain supported thereon on each side of said inclinedconveyor for movement in orbital paths in a plane substantially parallelto the plane of said apron forwardly along said apron laterally 0towards the central portion thereof and rearwardly along said conveyorand the forward end of said apron adjacent the central portion thereofbeing formed to conform generally to the paths of said adjacentgathering arms on said endless chains.

1'7. In a loading apparatus of the class described, an inclinedconveyor, and means for moving material onto said inclined conveyor anddischarging it thereon comprising an apron extending forwardly of saidconveyor and along each side thereof and having a discharge edgeextending across the forward end of said conveyor, and gatheringmechanism on said apron comprising a pair of spaced endless chainsguided for movement in orbits parallel to the plane of said apron andhaving gathering arms extending laterally therefrom, one of said endlesschains being spaced on each side of said inclined conveyor, saidinclined conveyor traveling at a greater speed than the speed of saidgathering arms and said gathering arms being pivotally connected to saidendless chains for pivotal movement in a forward direction in a planesubstantially parallel to the plane of movement of said endless chainsso that material on said conveyor may pivot said gathering armsforwardly and permit said gathering arms to clear themselves as theyturn away therefrom.

18. In a loading apparatus of the class described, an inclined conveyor,and means for moving material onto said inclined conveyor anddischarging it thereon comprising an apron extending forwardly of saidconveyor and along each side thereof and having a discharge edgeextending across the extreme forward end of said conveyor, gatheringmechanism on said apron comprising a pair of spaced endless chainsguided for movement in orbits parallel to the plane of said apron andhaving gathering arms extending laterally therefrom and beyond theforward end of said apron, one of said endless chains being spaced oneach side of said inclined conveyor and said inclined conveyor travelingat a greater speed than the speed of said gathering arms, said 5 endlesschains and gathering arms extending along said conveyor a substantialdistance and turning away from said conveyor at the rearward end of saidapron, and said gathering arms being pivotally connected to said endlesschains 7 for pivotal movement in the direction of movement of saidconveyor and in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of movementof said endless chains so that material on said conveyor may pivot saidgathering arms forwardly and prevent said gathering arms from retardingthe flow of material along said conveyor and permit said gathering armsto be cleared by material on said conveyor as they move therealong.

19. In a loading apparatus of the class described, an inclined conveyorincluding an inclined frame having a flight conveyor movable therealongand around a transverse shaft disposed adjacent the forward end thereof,means for moving material onto said conveyor including a pair oforbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms extendinglaterally therefrom, one of said endless chains being spaced on eachside of said inclined conveyor, and an inclined apron extending alongeach side of said inclined conveyor and across the forward end thereofand forming a support for guide means for guiding said endless chainsfor movement in orbits parallel to the plane of said apron, said apronbeing inclined at a greater angle of incidence with respect to theground upon which the machine rests than said inclined conveyor andhaving a discharge edge extending across the forward end of saidinclined conveyor and terminating in a vertical plane forwardly of saidtransverse shaft when said frame is in engagement with the ground, saidgathering arms moving along said apron forwardly of said conveyor arelatively short distance and along said conveyor a greater distance inorder to gain elevation at the turning point away from said conveyor,said conveyor moving at a greater speed than said gathering arms andsaid gathering arms being pivotally connected to said gathering chainsto pivot about axes disposed perpendicularly to said apron to permitmaterial on said conveyor to pivot said gathering arms in theirdirection of travel and prevent said gathering arms from retarding theflow of material along said conveyor.

20. In a loading machine, an elevating conveyor including a frame havinglongitudinally extending upstanding and outwardly flared sides, an aprondisposed forwardly of and extending rearwardly along each side of saidconveyor, endless chains on the upper side of said apron movable inorbits substantially parallel to the plane of said apron and extendingalong opposite sides of said conveyor from a point disposed forwardly ofthe forward end thereof and extending upwardly along said conveyor inlaterally diverging paths, said chains having laterally extendinggathering arms pivotally mounted thereon, the portion of said apronextending along opposite sides of said conveyor diverging laterally awayfrom said conveyor in the same general direction as said chains andabutting said outwardly flared sides of said conveyor to form an edge atthe margin of said apron where it joins each outwardly flared side ofsaid conveyor which recedes laterally away from said conveyor, and theangle between said gathering arms and said edges as said gathering armsturn away from the conveyor being such that said gathering arms willengage material with said receding edges and deflect it onto saidconveyor.

FRANK CARTLIDGE.

